The Nigeria Police Force has moved musician, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington “Akpi” from Owerri, Imo State, to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in a plot to inflict more punishment on the musician.

Ibom Focus learnt on Wednesday that Darlington is being moved to the police Force Intelligence Department (FID) from Owerri.

Top sources also revealed that Dasuki Galadanchi, the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in charge of FID had personally taken over Darlington’s case files from the police unit that arrested him before.

“Speed Darlington is being moved to Abuja. He is being prosecuted by DIG Dasuki Galadanchi who said his (Darlington) punishment was too short before they granted him bail the last time,” a top source revealed.

“The DIG personally took over his case files from the police department that arrested him and initially detained him in Abuja,” another competent source corroborated.

It was earlier reported that human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed that Nigerian music star, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, was behind the Tuesday’s police harassment and arrest of his client, Darlington “Akpi” in Owerri, Imo State.

Adeyanju, who made the confirmation in a post on his social media handle, had berated Burna Boy for having been producing songs against oppression but suddenly turning into an oppressor of Speed Darlington.

The lawyer had written, “Burna Boy behind harassment of Speed Darlington by the police. This is someone who has been singing against oppression and forming junior Fela now oppressing Akpi.”

Ibom Focus earlier reported that Adeyanju had confirmed Speed Darlington’s arrest in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.

Adeyanju wrote, “Our client Speed Darlington a.k.a AKPI has been arrested by the Nigerian police in Owerri at his show upon return to Nigeria.”

He added that Darlington’s arrest occurred during his return to Nigeria for a show.

However, the reasons for the Darlington arrest remained unclear.

Meanwhile, Ibom Focus recently reported that the Nigerian police detained Darlington over alleged cyberstalking of Burna Boy.

Ibom Focus had reported that Speed Darlington was arrested and detained at the notorious centre of the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team in the Guzape area of Abuja.

The musician was then visited by Adeyanju who also told SaharaReporters that he had seen a petition written against Darlington by afrobeat musician, Burna Boy.

Darlington had been arrested in Lagos and tossed around many police formations in Lagos before he was taken to detention in Abuja by the IRT team who accused him of cyberstalking Burna Boy.

Adeyanju had noted that there was nothing to the petition to warrant Darlington’s arrest.

“I have met Speed Darlington” and he’s in good spirits, we are working to get him released on bail as soon as possible,” Adeyanju had added.

The police ACP investigating the case had told Adeyanju that the police could not release a copy of the petition to him but he let the lawyer read and digest the content.

David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has responded to criticism over his recent comments about Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Speaking during an appearance on The Big Homies House podcast, the music star had advised Black Americans against relocating to Nigeria, citing poor leadership, a declining exchange rate, and rising oil prices as major concerns.

“It is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles,” Davido said during the interview, which has since gone viral.

He elaborated on Nigeria’s pressing issues, stating, “I am talking about the situation in the country. Now the exchange rate is messed up, a lot of stuffs are not going well.

The economy is just not good enough. The oil price is too high. Imagine the country that produces oil, paying more for it than a country importing oil.”

The singer also clarified his dual role as an entertainer and a representative of Nigeria, adding, “It is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles. I do my part, I am an ambassador. When I go home and I am filming, I am not going to show the bad parts.”

Davido’s remarks sparked criticism from various quarters, including actors and TV presenters, who accused him of tarnishing Nigeria’s image.

Akashat Ny’mat, a presenter on TVC, argued that Davido’s comments, while rooted in truth, were inappropriate on a global platform.

Ny’mat, during her segment on the TVC programme, said, “When the President takes a plane to a country to look for foreign investors and a prominent figure like Davido says this, he is essentially telling them not to come,”

Unfazed by the backlash, Davido took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to defend his position while hitting back at critics.

In a series of posts on X, Davido maintained his position as a “real ambassador” of Nigeria.

“Lmao #tvcnewsng nah today? You all are mad ‘cus we the real ambassadors,” he wrote.

He also expressed excitement over his delivery during the podcast, stating in pidgin English, “The way my accent be for that interview dey sweet me very demure.”

The singer spoke on concerns that his shows in Nigeria might be cancelled due to his remarks, saying, “Dem say dem go cancel my show cus of my interview … loooool I don’t have to perform in Nigeria.”

Since rising to fame in 2012 with his hit single ‘Dami Duro’ from his debut album ‘Omo Baba Olowo,’ Davido has become one of Africa’s most influential artists.

Afrobeats singer, Tiwa Savage, has claimed that poverty is responsible for the huge amount of entertainers Nigeria is churning out.

According to her, the hardship in the country is making young people explore their talents.

Speaking on the ‘Shopping The Sneakers’ podcast, Savage said living in Nigeria is difficult.

She said, “When you come to Nigeria, you will understand why we breed so many superstars. To survive in Nigeria is something else so that’s why the artists that come out of Nigeria are just like hustlers. They are just hustling.”

Nigeria has Africa’s largest movie, music, comedy and fashion industries.

Nollywood is the second largest movie industry in the world.